Compressor unit



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- INVENTOR.

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IN VEN TOR.

Patented Dec. 31, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMPRESSOR UNIT James M. Long, Henderson, Nev. Application August 30,1946, Serial No. 693,950 8 Claims. (01. 230-159) The present invention relates to compressor units in general and particularly to a reciprocating vane type compressor. More specifically, the invention comprises a light weight compressor unit of the reciprocating vane type in which great efliciency is attained by the provision of a multiplicity of double acting vanes actuated by a single oscillating shaft.

Fluids under pressure are used widely today in applications too numerous to mention. Every filling station has its motor compressor unit to provide air under pressure to be used in filling automobile tires. Industrially various gases, including air, are compressed to pressures varying from a few pounds per square inch to many hundred pounds per square inch. The usual cornpressor unit comprises a bulky, cumbersome, heavy, space-consuming mechanism, usually operating at relatively low speeds and with considerable vibration and noise. For example, a standard compressor available today on the market to compress gas to 125 pounds per square inch pressure, and at the rate of approximately '70 cubic feet per minute, would weigh roughly 3,000 pounds, would occupy a space approximately 4 feet x 3 feet x 5 feet, and would require a horse I power driving motor. As distinguished from this prior art device, the compressor constructed in accordance with the present invention weighs approximately 150 pounds, is approximately 14 inches in diameter x 32 inches long, and requires only 7% horse power. Furthermore, it is substantially noiseless and vibrationless.

With an appreciation of the advantages to be gained in manufacturing costs and in performance characteristics, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved oscillating vane type compressor.

It is another object of the invention to provide a light weight compressor incorporating a plurality of double acting vanes upon a single shaft.

A further object of the invention is to provide an oscillating vane compressor in which rotary motion is translated into alternate oscillatory motion in a new and novel manner.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an oscillating vane type compressor incorporating an improved lubricating system.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which a pre- I ferred embodiment illustrative of the present invention is shown:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a compressor unit constructed in accordance with the present invention connected to a pressure storage tank;

Figure 2 is a transverse direction of the arrow upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and discloses the oscillating vanes within the unit;

Figure 3 is a transverse section upon the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and shows the connection of the valves to the cylinder chambers upon both sides of themovable vanes;

Figure 4 is a partial longitudinal section upon the lin 4-4 of Figure 2 and illustrates the connection of therotary drive shaft to the oscillating vane carrying shafts; and

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section at to the section of Figure 4 line 5-5 of Figure 2.

The compressor unit constructed in accordance with the present invention is indicated in the drawings generally by the reference character In and includes a casing comprising a pair of aligned cylinder casings ll mounted upon opposite sides of a central transmission casing I2. Each cylinder casing ii is closed at its outer end by a removable cover plate l3, secured by a plurality of bolts H, the exterior of both the covers and the cylinders proper being provided with flanges or ribs IE to increase the rate of heat dissipation. Transverse walls I'I define the inner ends of each of the cylinders II and also the sides of the transmission chamber l2. Bolts ls clamp the flanged ends of the transmission case l2 to the flanged inner ends of the cylinr ht angles ders Ii, the peripheral margin of the walls I! extending therebetween.

Within each cylinder II is nally extending barriers or walls indicated by the reference character 2|. Each of these walls is fixedly secured in sealed relationship, as by screws 22, to the cylinder inner surface and also is sealed at its opposite ends in contact with cover I 3 and end wall l1. Seals 24 insure pressure tight joints at both ends of the cylinder.

An oscillating shaft 28 extends longitudinally through each cylinder and is rotatably mounted in sleeve bearings 21 and 28 positioned in the covers l3 and inner walls I'I. respectively. Each shaft 20 carries a vane unit 29 comprising a central hub 30, rigidly fixed upon and enclosing its supporting shaft 28. Hub is movable in sealed relationship to the adjacent stationary walls 2| by virtue of the presence of elongated seals 3| rea pair of longitudiq section looking'in the 'being taken upon the tank 48 prefera 3 cessed into the wall 2|. A pair of triangularly sectioned vanes 32 extend diametrically from opposite sides of the shaft, the outer end of each vane extending closely adjacent the enclosing cylinderwall and making sealing contact therewith by longitudinally extending metallic seals or rings 33 which it carries in slots 36. Each ring is urged radially outwardly by leaf-type expander springs 34. The ends of each vane are similarly slotted and provided with end seals 31 which move in sliding contact with the adjacent end Walls of the cylinder. The presence of these seals or rings effectively divides each cylinder II, with the cooperation of the stationary walls, baffles or barriers 2|, into four chambers'indicated in Figures 2 and 3 by the reference characters 38A, 38B and 39A, 393, respectively. The A and B chambers in each case are separated by the movable vanes 32 and the movement of thevane in one direction a pressure operated valve 43 which permits of the entrance of air when the interior pressure is less than atmospheric. similarly pro ided with a pressure operated valve 44 which p events the entrance of air into the chamber but which permits of its exhaust there- Each of the outlets 42 is from under pressure. suitably connected b a pipe 46 to a common inlet pipe 41 leadin to the pressure reservoir or y strongly made to withstand high pressures.

To actuate theoscillatable shaft 25, a rotary drive shaft 5|, located in the same plane, is rotatably mounted in a sleeve bearing 52 positioned in an enclosing cylindrical portion 53 forming a part of transmission housing I2. The outer end of cylinder 53 isclosed by a plate 54 held in position by removable screws 56 and forming a housing for a packing gland 51 which surrounds the shaft at that point. Shaft 5| exteriorly of the transmission casing |2 carries a suitable power receiving pulley 58 to which is connected a driving belt 59. It is to be understood, however, that any suitable power transmitting means may be substituted for the belt and pulley, as for example gearing or a direct connection to a prime mover.

Rotary shaft 5| extends from within the cylinder or tunnel 52 into the casing I2 proper and is therein connected to power transmitting means which convert the rotary movement of the shaft into oscillating movement of the shaft 26. The specific mechanical drive which effects this result is disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 646,974, filed February 12, 1946, for Mechanical drive mechanism. Briefly, the construction comprises an angular arm 6| at the end of shaft 5| from which extends a trunnion 62 at an angle of or less to the axis of the shaft. A contained imaginary point X in the trunnion lies upon the intersection ofithe imaginary central axis of the oscillating shafts 26 with the imaginary central axis of the rotary shaft 5|. In all angular positions of the trunnion effected by rotation of the shaft 5|, this point remains fixed. The inner race 64 of a bearing 63 is mounted upon trunnion 62, its central plane including the point X. The outer race 66 of the bearing is seated within a drive ring or block Each outlet port 42 is 61 formed at diametrically spaced points with trunnions 68. The latter are rotatably mounted in a yoke 68 which is itself provided with seats 1| receiving the reduced ends of the oscillatable shafts 26 in fixed relationship. As is clearly disclosed and set forth in the copending application, the power transmission means, upon the rotation of shaft 5| effects the alternate rotary motion or oscillation of the shafts 26. This is believed to be clear when it is recognized that all movement produced by the angular tilting of trunnion 62 is accommodated either by the pivoting of the drive ring 61 upon its trunnions .68, or by the angular displacement of the yoke 69 which latter movement, of course, effects the concurrent angular displacement of the shafts 26. As the vanes 32 are fixedly connected to the shafts 26, it is clear that the alternate arcuate rotational movement or oscillation of the latter will effect the displacement of the vanes, first in one direction and then in the reverse direction. So long as the point X is positioned as described, the extent of this angular displacement effected in the oscillatable shafts 26 will be determined by the angularity of the trunnion 62 with respect to its carrying shaft 5|, any angularity between 0 and 45 being usable.

It is essential that adequate means be provided to lubricate the moving parts of the mechanism in order to make it self-contained and to eliminate the necessity for operator attention. High pressures are generated and it is necessary to provide a positive lubricating set up. In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated, an oil pump unit I6 is positioned within transmission casing I2 below the normal oil level thereof which, as illustrated in Figure 5, extends substantially to the bearing 28. Unit I6 is provided with filtered intakes 11 at its lower end and contains a suitable pressure creating device which may be standard and, accordingly, is not illustrated. The latter is driven by a rotatable shaft 18 which extends from the top of the unit and carries a gear 18 at its upper end in engagement with a spiral gear 8| carried by shaft 5|. At all times in the rotation of the shaft 5| the pump 16 is actuated.

Oil under pressure flows from the unit I6 by a' pipe 82 and divides at fitting to fiow through conduits 83, 84 and 85. Conduit extends through the side of easing I2 and carries oil to the bearing 52 of the shaft 5|. Conduits 83 and 84 extend to the bearings 28 and to each is connected, by means of a fitting 85, a conduit 88 which extends through the inner wall through an aperture therefor in the gasket seal 24, longitudinally through the wall 2 I, to connect, through an aperture in the seal 24, to an interior conduit 88 in the cover I3 leading directly to the cavity 8| adjacent the bearing 21 at that end of the unit. The lubricant which is fed to'the bearings 28 and 5| drains directly back into casing I2, one end of each of the bearings being open thereto. The oil which fiows to the end bearings 21, however, travels a more extended path. The two sides are identical so only one will be described.

Referring to the oil carrying conduit 88, oil under pressure therein flows to the bearings 21 to lubricate that element, first entering a cavity or recess 8| at the outer end thereof. Shaft 26 is provided with a central longitudinal conduit 82 open at one end to the recess 8| and at its opposite end to a transverse intersecting conduit 93. Oil from recess 9| under pressure derived from the conduit 88 travels through conduits 8'2 and 83 onto the adjacent vane 32 where it travels in an open groove 84 encircling the vane ends and side.

Lubricant in groove 94 clearly will lubricate the adjacent surfaces of the vane and of the enclosing cylinder.- The channels or grooves 94 upon the diametrically opposed vanes converge at the inner wall l1 and connect to the transverse duct 96 in the shaft 26, corresponding to duct 93 at the opposite' end. Duct 96 in turn connects to longitudinally extending duct 91 which leads into the interior of the transmission case [2. The rotating mechanism within the case I2 is lubricated largely by the splash of the oil as it is disturbed by movement of the parts and also by return of the 011 through the conduits 91 after it has traveled the pathways described. All lubricating fluid is returned to the lubricating reservoir formed by casing 12 and is again pumped through the system described, it being understood, of course, that the pumping unit I6 must be capable of placing the oil under the pressure required to circulate it through the described system.

In the operationof the compressor constructed in accordance with the present invention, .the rotation of the shaft effects, through the novel power transmitting means positioned within the casing I2,.the oscillation of the shafts 26. Each complete rotation of shaft 5| causes each shaft 23 to move through a complete cycle. The vanes 32 being fixedly attached to the shafts 26 move therewith and in their movement in one direction compress the fluids present within the B chambers in each cylinder. As the pressure rises, the fluid or gas is forced past the exhaust valves 44 into the conduits or pipes 46 to be added to the fiuid present within the container 48. As the vanes travel in the opposite direction, each and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitasaid wall into the respective cylinders along the axis of the latter, each shaft having a sealed relationship with the corresponding wall, a pair of vanes secured to each shaft within the corresponding cylinder, the vanes of each pair extending in diametrically opposite directions and B chamber is increased in size, air rushing in past the inlet valves 43 in response to the pressure differential. The A chambers are then being compressed and fluid is forced therefrom through the exhaust valves 44 and into the reservoir 48. The cycle is repeated at high speed and the movement of the shaft in each direction in each cycle effects two power strokes and two sue-- tion strokes in each cylinder. As there is a unit upon both sides of the transmission case I2, it is clear that at all timesthere are four pressure strokes and four suction strokes being effected during operation. 4

During this operation all of-the parts of the device are completely and adequately lubricated by the circulation of oil by the pump unit 16 through the pipes and conduits described. Each shaft-supporting bearing receives adequate lubricant and in addition, the internal surfaces of the cylinder I I contacted by the sealing rings 33 are also lubricated. Pressure leakage between the A and B cylinders in each instance is prevented by the presence of the seals or rings 33 I and 31 in cooperation with the gasket 3| carried by the walls 2| which abut the central hub of each vane unit. v I

The unit is self-contained and is self-sufficient. The operator need only check the unit at widely spaced intervals to make such that there has not, for some unforeseen reason, been a leakage of oil which would prevent proper lubrication. Because of the presence of the multiplicity of working units, there being in fact four power strokes creating pressure at all times, the capacity of the unit is extremely high and it is possible for a unit weighing as little as 150 pounds to place as much fluid under pressure as an ordinary unit weighing or times as much and requiring three to four times the power input.

While the particular construction herein shown radially of the shaft, a pair of stationary partitions extending radially inwardly from the circumferential wall of each cylinder along a diametrical line to engage the corresponding portion of the shaft between the vanes and divide the interior of each cylinder into two compartments. each of which contains a vane, each compartment having an inlet and an outlet port, a unidirectionally rotating drive shaft extending into said casing at right angles to said two first-mentioned shafts, and means providing an operating connection between said drive shaft and said two first-mentioned shafts whereby th unidirectional motion of the drive shaft will oscillate said two first-mentioned shafts.

2. A com ressor unit of the character defined in claim 1 wherein the casing forms a lubricant well, a lubricant pump having an inlet communieating with said well, means to drive said pump, passage means'to conduct lubricant from said pump and along the radial ends and radially outward surface of each vane, and means to return the lubricantto said well.

3. A compressor unit of the character defined in claim 1 wherein the casing forms a lubricant well, a lubricant pump having an inlet communicating with said well, means to drive said pump, means to conduct lubricant from said pump to one end of each of said cylinders, the portion of each shaft adjacent said end of each cylinder being provided with a port extending between said shaft end and points on the shaft periphery near the adjacent radial ends of the vanes within said cylinder, the radially outward surface and both radial ends of each vane being provided 'with passages communicating with the ports in each shaft, and the opposite end of each shaft being provided with a port communicating'with the passages in the corresponding vanes to return lubricant to the casing well. I

4. A compressor unit comprising a casing, a pair of co-axially arranged cylinders secured to the opposite ends of said casing, transverse walls separating the interiors of the respective cylinders from said casing, a shaft structure extending through said casing and-cylinders along the axis of the latter and having a sealed relationship with said transverse walls, a pair of vanes mounted on the portion-of said shaft structure which is within each of said cylinders, the vanes of each pair' extending in diametrically opposite directions and radially of the shaft structure. a pair of stationary partitions extending radially inwardly from the circumferential wall of each-cylin claim 4 wherein the casing forms a, lubricant well, alubricant pump having an inlet communieating with said well, means to drive said pump,

passage means to conduct lubricant from said pump and along the radial ends and radially outward surface of each vane, and means to return the lubricant to said well.

;6. A compressor unit of the character defined in claim 4 wherein the casing forms a lubricant well, a lubricant pump having an inlet communicating with said well, means to drive said pump, means to conduct lubricant from said pump to one end of each of said cylinders, the portion of each shaft structure adjacent said end of each cylinder being provided with a port extending between said end of the shaft structure and points on the shaft structure periphery near the adjacent radial ends of the vanes within said cylinder, the radially outward surface and both radial ends of each vane being provided with passages communicating with the ports in each shaft structure, and the opposite end of said shaft structure within each cylinder being provided with a port communicating with the passages in the corresponding vanes to return lubricant to the casing well.

7. A compressor unit comprising a casing, a. plurality of co-axially arranged cylinders, said cylinders being secured to the ends of said casing, with an equal number of cylinders at each end of the casing, transverse walls separating the interiors of the respective cylinders and said casing, a shaft structure extending through said casing and cylinders along the axis of the latter and having a sealed relationship with said transverse walls, a pair of vanes mounted on the portion of said shaft structure which is within each of said cylinders, the vanes of each pair extending in diametrically opposite directions and radially of the shaft structure, a pair of stationary partitions extending radially inwardy from the circumferential wall of each cylinder along a diametrical line to engage the corresponding porpartments, each of which contains a vane, each compartment having an inlet and an outlet port,

a unidirectionally rotating 'drive shaft extending into said casing at right angles to said shaft structure, and means providing an operating connection between said drive shaft and said shaft structure whereby the unidirectional motion of the drive shaft will oscillate said shaft structure.

8. A compressor unitof the character defined in claim '7 wherein the casing forms a lubricant well, a lubricant pump having an inlet communicating with said well, means to drive said pump, passage means to conduct lubricant from said Dump and along the radial ends and radially outward surface of each vane, and means to return the lubricant to said well. 7

JAMES M. LONG.- 

